Creative Nonfiction Workshop 3372 Dr. Stephanie Vanderslice 10:50-12:05 Thompson Hall 101 CRN 2379 Office Hours: TTh 12:15-1:15, 4-5, F 1-3 and by appointment Office: Thompson Hall 336 Phone: 450-3340 email: stephv@uca.edu (email is the best way to reach me) My blog: www.wordamour.wordpress.com CLASS WIKI: creativenonfictionworkshopspring12.wikispaces.com
Class Texts: Ellis, Sherri. Now Write! Nonfiction: Memoir, Journalism and Creative Nonfiction Exercises from Today’s Best Writers. New York: Penguin/Tarcher, 2009. Kramer, Mark W. and Wendy Call. Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writer’s Guide. New York: Penguin/Plume, 2007.
Writers on Creative Nonfiction
The word “creative” refers simply to the use of literary craft in presenting nonfiction. Lee Gutkind
Creative nonfiction--what is it? It's my favorite form for writing. You research a topic just as a journalist does, but you have all the artistic freedom of a fiction writer--not in regard to the truth, but in the way you construct the story. The goal is to communicate information, just as a reporter does, but using tools fiction writers rely on: literary patterns, themes, and shapes.
So you’ve explored the multifaceted world of creative nonfiction in forms. Are you ready to dig a little deeper? I hope so, because Creative Nonfiction Workshop is the place where we’ll focus more intensely on this genre’s craft and on what you want to accomplish with it. We’ll also look closely at the work of other nonfiction writers and dissect their approach to craft. We’ll also do a lot of nonfiction writing—in class and out.
Course Assignments: Point Value First Essay 200 Second Essay 200 Portfolio (includes Portfolio Proposal) 300 Workshop Comments 200 Talking Points 100 Digital Creative Nonfiction Book Study 200 1000 points total A=900 or more points, B=800-899 points, C=700-799 points, D=600 -699 points.
Assignments: A= 90 points, B=80 points, C=70 points, D=60 points, F=50 points (when a grade is worth 200 points, double the grade for point value).
Important:
All major assignments must be submitted in order to have an opportunity to pass the course.
Any required drafts must be submitted along with the final copy of each paper. Failure to include required drafts will lead to failure of the assignment.
COURSE NARRATIVE
Your first course task will be to decide what you want to focus on in this course and how you want to focus on this task in the two essays you’ll work on for the class andon what you read to support this focus. You’ll write about this in your Portfolio Proposal (2-4 pages, typed) where you answer the preceding questions and talk about your goals. You’ll then write and workshop two essays that support these goals (7-10 pages typed), including cover letters (turned in to me only) that describe your process and goals in writing these essays.
In addition to class discussions, we’ll do a lot of in-class writing. On the days that Telling True Stories readings are due you should also bring Now Write and your journal or laptop, because we’ll also do focused exercises from that book on those days as well.
At the end of the semester, you’ll turn in a Portfolio that will not only include drafts of each of these two essays, revised drafts of these two essays, a copy of the best commentary you wrote and the best commentary you received, a copy of your best talking points, and finally a thoughtful, considered essay discussing: how well you realized your goals from the portfolio proposal, what steps you took (outside reading, etc.) to support realizing these goals, and your decisions in revising the pieces included.
As the class schedule notes, you’ll workshop two essays and provide typed commentary on the essays of your peers throughout the semester (I will drop the two lowest grades on these so that you’ll have time to learn what I expect). You will create a page on the class wiki where you’ll post the essay four days before the workshop, to give your classmates plenty of time to read and respond to your work. This means if you are workshopping your essay on a Tuesday, your essay will be posted by 8 am on Friday morning; if you are workshopping your essay on a Thursday, you’ll post your essay by 8 am that Sunday morning. You’ll also write talking points for every assigned reading in class, due on the day the reading is due. Finally, you’ll select a nonfiction book (from a list I provide) to read and analyze for craft and present a digital discussion of this book (using Prezi or Glogster or another digital form approved by me) to the class.
Celebration is important in the life of the writer, so from 11-1 on Thursday May 3, we’ll have a potluck celebration and a portfolio party. Your portfolios will be returned and you’ll have a chance to look at your classmates work and end the semester with some post-it high fives. I cannot wait to get started!
TuesdayThursday
January10
January 12 Classes begin
January 17 Telling 3,6,10,14
January 19
January 24 Telling 19,22,24,28,30,34,35
January 26 Telling 39,45,46,48,51,54,55,59
January 31 Telling 97,98,100,103
February 2 Telling 104,107,109,111,112,116 Portfolio Proposal Due, Nonfiction Book Title Due
April 5 Revision Packet (Available Online on Wiki)
April 10 Workshop Essay 2
April 12 No Class—Comp Time Fennelly/Franklin Arkansas Literary Festival this Weekend!!!
April 17 No Class
April 19 Workshops
April 24 Workshops
April 26 Portfolios Due DIGITAL AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS
May 1 Final Examinations
May 3
Final Examinations 11-1Portfolio Party
DIGITAL COMPETENCIES Because digital literacy is cross-curricular, digital competencies are the same for each of my classes. They are based on preparing you to live and work in the 21st century and taken from an article in Inside Higher Education (www.insidehighered.com) on skills every college graduate needs to master. While the content of your assignments will be centered on reaching the objectives of the individual class, the forms these assignments may take will be based on these digital competencies.
10 Digital Competencies for Every Graduate
Graduates should be able to. . .
1.Start a Blog 2. Buy an Audio Recorder and Learn to Use It 3. Start Editing Audio 4. Post an Interview (or Podcast) on Your Blog 5. Learn How to Shoot, Crop, Tone, and Optimize Photos (And Add Them to Your Blog) 6. Learn to Create Effective Voice-Over Presentations with Rapid Authoring Software 7. Tell a Good Story with Images and Sound 8. Learn to Shoot Video 9. Edit Your Video with iMovie, Windows Movie Maker or Windows Storyteller 10. Publish Your Video on Your Blog.
UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT AND COURSE POLICIES
Disability Policy:The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this act due to a disability, contact Disability Support Services at 450-3613. They are located in room 212 of the Student Health Center. Please feel free to discuss this issue with your instructor, in private, if you need more information.
Sexual Harassment Policy:Harassment by any faculty member, staff member, or student is a violation of both law and University policy and will not be tolerated. Please read the appropriate pages of your Student Handbook for the policies, definition, and procedures concerning harassment. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your instructor or the chair. Individuals who believe they have been subjected to harassment should report the incident promptly to their academic dean or to a departmental chair or directly to the university’s Affirmative Action officer, legal counsel or assistant vice president for human resources.
Other Policies: You should familiarize yourself with all academic policies in your Student Handbook.
Special Problems: If, during any point of the semester, you find that personal problems are keeping you from completing your course work, you may find it beneficial to visit the counseling center. All students are entitled to free, confidential, professional counseling. Please contact the University Counseling Center at 450-3138. They are located in the Student Health Center, suite 327.
Attendance: If a student in the Department of Writing misses two weeks’ worth of classes—i.e., six classes of a MWF course, four classes of a TTH or MW course, or two classes of a one night a week course—and/or a student in a MWF or TTH class misses a week’s worth of classes consecutively without contacting the instructor, the instructor may drop the student from the course. When dropping a student for non-attendance, the instructor will assign a WF, WP, or W, as appropriate.
Plagiarism: If a student in a Writing Department course turns in a paper that includes an extended passage that has been a.) written for him or her by someone else for pay or as a favor, or b.) copied from a print or electronic source written by another author, even if some of the words have been changed, that student will immediately be dropped from the course, receiving a WF grade. In addition, notification will be sent from the Writing Department office to the Office of the Provost documenting the student’s academic misconduct. This documentation will be retained permanently at the Office of the Provost.
If a student in a Writing Department course turns in a paper that has borrowed from other sources without giving complete and unambiguous credit to every source (e.g., quotation marks are not included around all direct quotations, in-text citations are missing, the bibliography is missing or incomplete), that paper will receive a grade of 0 (zero). If the instructor deems the plagiarism to be accidental, the instructor may allow the student to revise the paper for a higher grade.
Incompletes: It is the policy of the Department of Writing that an incomplete (X grade) may be assigned only under extraordinary circumstances, such as a documented medical emergency, a death in the student’s immediate family, an unavoidable legal responsibility (e.g., jury duty, military service), a natural disaster that has affected the student’s own home or immediate family, or extended university closure. An incomplete grade may also be assigned for courses that extend beyond the regular end of term. However, an incomplete may be assigned only if the student remained in good standing for the first ¾ of the semester.
When assigning an incomplete grade, the instructor should establish a written contract with the student specifying exactly when the missing work must be turned in. However, the student may not turn in the missing work any later than the end of the first month of the following semester—excluding summer. Specifically, any student assigned an X grade for a fall semester class or a winter intercession class may not turn in the missing work any later than the end of the first month of the spring semester. Any student assigned an X grade for a spring semester class, a May intercession class, or a summer term class may not turn in the missing work any later than the end of the first month of the fall semester.
Disruptive Students: Any student in a Writing Department class whose behavior regularly interferes with the instructor’s ability to conduct the class and foster student learning, or who exhibits a behavior so outrageous as to severely impede the conduct of a class, may be dropped by the instructor after the instructor consults with the department chair. Prior warning will be provided to the student when possible, but under extraordinary circumstances such warning may not always be possible. When dropping a student for disruptive behavior, the instructor will assign a WF grade, specifying on the Drop for Non-Attendance form that the grade is assigned for “disciplinary action.” A record of this disciplinary action will remain permanently on file with the university and the instructor will keep permanent record of dropping the student for disruptive behavior. Additionally, when dropping a student for disruptive behavior, the instructor is encouraged to submit to the Dean of Students a list of the problematic behaviors.
Late papers: Assignments, including drafts, are down graded one full grade for each day late (each day not posted on your blog), so an assignment deadline missed on Tuesday would result in a D by Friday.
Inclement weather: If Conway schools are closed for inclement weather, we will not meet but will have an alternative assignment posted to the Wiki. If classes are cancelled you should immediately go to the wiki for instructions.
Academic Integrity
The University of Central Arkansas affirms its commitment to academic integrity and expects all members of the university community to accept shared responsibility for maintaining academic integrity. Students in this course are subject to the provisions of the university's Academic Integrity Policy, approved by the Board of Trustees as Board Policy No. 709 on February 10, 2010, and published in the Student Handbook. Penalties for academic misconduct in this course may include a failing grade on an assignment, a failing grade in the course, or any other course-related sanction the instructor determinesto be appropriate. Continued enrollment in this course affirms a student's acceptance of this university policy.
Staying on Dr. V’s Good Side
Stay focused, even with the laptop open. Give your teachers and your colleagues your respect.
Conversely, we will use the phrase “screens down” when we want to emphasize that we want everyone’s full attention. I and your fellow class members expect you to respect this.
Refrain from reading any outside material or doing any outside work from other courses during class.
Except in cases of emergency (clear it with me before class, I understand these do arise) turn your cell phone off during class.
If you text in class or look at your cell phone texts, you will lose 10 points each time. If you repeatedly text, I will ask everyone to turn in their cell phones at the beginning of class.
Be respectful of other class members. We all bring a range of knowledge, experience and interest to class. Let’s appreciate that.
Refrain from derogatory language or hate commentary. This class has the potential to produce provocative discussions that will make us all better writers but only if we approach it with an attitude of tolerance.
You may bring drink and/or food, especially if you think it will help you stay awake and alert, particularly if you tend to get drowsy due to the length of the class or the time it meets (but not, of course, the subject matter or delivery J).
10:50-12:05 Thompson Hall 101 CRN 2379
Office Hours: TTh 12:15-1:15, 4-5, F 1-3 and by appointment
Office: Thompson Hall 336 Phone: 450-3340 email: stephv@uca.edu
(email is the best way to reach me)
My blog: www.wordamour.wordpress.com
CLASS WIKI: creativenonfictionworkshopspring12.wikispaces.com
Class Texts:
Ellis, Sherri. Now Write! Nonfiction: Memoir, Journalism and Creative Nonfiction Exercises from Today’s Best Writers. New York: Penguin/Tarcher, 2009.
Kramer, Mark W. and Wendy Call. Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writer’s Guide. New York: Penguin/Plume, 2007.
Writers on Creative Nonfiction
The word “creative” refers simply to the use of literary craft in presenting nonfiction. Lee Gutkind
Creative nonfiction--what is it? It's my favorite form for writing. You research a topic just as a journalist does, but you have all the artistic freedom of a fiction writer--not in regard to the truth, but in the way you construct the story. The goal is to communicate information, just as a reporter does, but using tools fiction writers rely on: literary patterns, themes, and shapes.
//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxkDOOQ6D7o// Dinty Moore
So you’ve explored the multifaceted world of creative nonfiction in forms. Are you ready to dig a little deeper? I hope so, because Creative Nonfiction Workshop is the place where we’ll focus more intensely on this genre’s craft and on what you want to accomplish with it. We’ll also look closely at the work of other nonfiction writers and dissect their approach to craft. We’ll also do a lot of nonfiction writing—in class and out.
Course Assignments:
Point Value
First Essay 200
Second Essay 200
Portfolio (includes Portfolio Proposal) 300
Workshop Comments 200
Talking Points 100
Digital Creative Nonfiction Book Study 200
1000 points total A=900 or more points, B=800-899 points, C=700-799 points, D=600 -699 points.
Assignments: A= 90 points, B=80 points, C=70 points, D=60 points, F=50 points (when a grade is worth 200 points, double the grade for point value).
Important:
COURSE NARRATIVE
Your first course task will be to decide what you want to focus on in this course and how you want to focus on this task in the two essays you’ll work on for the class andon what you read to support this focus. You’ll write about this in your Portfolio Proposal (2-4 pages, typed) where you answer the preceding questions and talk about your goals. You’ll then write and workshop two essays that support these goals (7-10 pages typed), including cover letters (turned in to me only) that describe your process and goals in writing these essays.
In addition to class discussions, we’ll do a lot of in-class writing. On the days that Telling True Stories readings are due you should also bring Now Write and your journal or laptop, because we’ll also do focused exercises from that book on those days as well.
At the end of the semester, you’ll turn in a Portfolio that will not only include drafts of each of these two essays, revised drafts of these two essays, a copy of the best commentary you wrote and the best commentary you received, a copy of your best talking points, and finally a thoughtful, considered essay discussing: how well you realized your goals from the portfolio proposal, what steps you took (outside reading, etc.) to support realizing these goals, and your decisions in revising the pieces included.
As the class schedule notes, you’ll workshop two essays and provide typed commentary on the essays of your peers throughout the semester (I will drop the two lowest grades on these so that you’ll have time to learn what I expect). You will create a page on the class wiki where you’ll post the essay four days before the workshop, to give your classmates plenty of time to read and respond to your work. This means if you are workshopping your essay on a Tuesday, your essay will be posted by 8 am on Friday morning; if you are workshopping your essay on a Thursday, you’ll post your essay by 8 am that Sunday morning. You’ll also write talking points for every assigned reading in class, due on the day the reading is due. Finally, you’ll select a nonfiction book (from a list I provide) to read and analyze for craft and present a digital discussion of this book (using Prezi or Glogster or another digital form approved by me) to the class.
Celebration is important in the life of the writer, so from 11-1 on Thursday May 3, we’ll have a potluck celebration and a portfolio party. Your portfolios will be returned and you’ll have a chance to look at your classmates work and end the semester with some post-it high fives. I cannot wait to get started!
Tuesday Thursday
Classes begin
Telling 3,6,10,14
Telling 19,22,24,28,30,34,35
Telling 39,45,46,48,51,54,55,59
Telling 97,98,100,103
Telling 104,107,109,111,112,116
Portfolio Proposal Due, Nonfiction Book Title Due
ESSAY 1 DUE, COVER LETTERS TOO!
Workshop Essay 1
Telling 70,71,73, 86,88,89
Workshop Essay 1
Telling 125-162
NO CLASS, ARKATEXT,
You must attend two events.
NO CLASS, ARKATEXT,
You must attend two events.
Workshop Essay 1
No Class. Comp Time for Rick Steves
Workshop Essay 1
Telling 163-196
Workshop Essay 1
Mid Term Grades due 14th
Workshop Essay 2
Introducing Rick Steves
Workshop Essay 2
Workshops
Workshop Essay 2
Revision Packet (Available Online on Wiki)
Workshop Essay 2
No Class—Comp Time Fennelly/Franklin
Arkansas Literary Festival this Weekend!!!
No Class
Workshops
Workshops
DIGITAL AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS
Final Examinations
Final Examinations
11-1Portfolio Party
DIGITAL COMPETENCIES
Because digital literacy is cross-curricular, digital competencies are the same for each of my classes. They are based on preparing you to live and work in the 21st century and taken from an article in Inside Higher Education (www.insidehighered.com) on skills every college graduate needs to master. While the content of your assignments will be centered on reaching the objectives of the individual class, the forms these assignments may take will be based on these digital competencies.
10 Digital Competencies for Every Graduate
Graduates should be able to. . .
1.Start a Blog
2. Buy an Audio Recorder and Learn to Use It
3. Start Editing Audio
4. Post an Interview (or Podcast) on Your Blog
5. Learn How to Shoot, Crop, Tone, and Optimize Photos (And Add Them to Your Blog)
6. Learn to Create Effective Voice-Over Presentations with Rapid Authoring Software
7. Tell a Good Story with Images and Sound
8. Learn to Shoot Video
9. Edit Your Video with iMovie, Windows Movie Maker or Windows Storyteller
10. Publish Your Video on Your Blog.
UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT AND COURSE POLICIES
Disability Policy: The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this act due to a disability, contact Disability Support Services at 450-3613. They are located in room 212 of the Student Health Center. Please feel free to discuss this issue with your instructor, in private, if you need more information.
Sexual Harassment Policy: Harassment by any faculty member, staff member, or student is a violation of both law and University policy and will not be tolerated. Please read the appropriate pages of your Student Handbook for the policies, definition, and procedures concerning harassment. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your instructor or the chair. Individuals who believe they have been subjected to harassment should report the incident promptly to their academic dean or to a departmental chair or directly to the university’s Affirmative Action officer, legal counsel or assistant vice president for human resources.
Other Policies: You should familiarize yourself with all academic policies in your Student Handbook.
Special Problems: If, during any point of the semester, you find that personal problems are keeping you from completing your course work, you may find it beneficial to visit the counseling center. All students are entitled to free, confidential, professional counseling. Please contact the University Counseling Center at 450-3138. They are located in the Student Health Center, suite 327.
Attendance: If a student in the Department of Writing misses two weeks’ worth of classes—i.e., six classes of a MWF course, four classes of a TTH or MW course, or two classes of a one night a week course—and/or a student in a MWF or TTH class misses a week’s worth of classes consecutively without contacting the instructor, the instructor may drop the student from the course. When dropping a student for non-attendance, the instructor will assign a WF, WP, or W, as appropriate.
Plagiarism: If a student in a Writing Department course turns in a paper that includes an extended passage that has been a.) written for him or her by someone else for pay or as a favor, or b.) copied from a print or electronic source written by another author, even if some of the words have been changed, that student will immediately be dropped from the course, receiving a WF grade. In addition, notification will be sent from the Writing Department office to the Office of the Provost documenting the student’s academic misconduct. This documentation will be retained permanently at the Office of the Provost.
If a student in a Writing Department course turns in a paper that has borrowed from other sources without giving complete and unambiguous credit to every source (e.g., quotation marks are not included around all direct quotations, in-text citations are missing, the bibliography is missing or incomplete), that paper will receive a grade of 0 (zero). If the instructor deems the plagiarism to be accidental, the instructor may allow the student to revise the paper for a higher grade.
Incompletes: It is the policy of the Department of Writing that an incomplete (X grade) may be assigned only under extraordinary circumstances, such as a documented medical emergency, a death in the student’s immediate family, an unavoidable legal responsibility (e.g., jury duty, military service), a natural disaster that has affected the student’s own home or immediate family, or extended university closure. An incomplete grade may also be assigned for courses that extend beyond the regular end of term. However, an incomplete may be assigned only if the student remained in good standing for the first ¾ of the semester.
When assigning an incomplete grade, the instructor should establish a written contract with the student specifying exactly when the missing work must be turned in. However, the student may not turn in the missing work any later than the end of the first month of the following semester—excluding summer. Specifically, any student assigned an X grade for a fall semester class or a winter intercession class may not turn in the missing work any later than the end of the first month of the spring semester. Any student assigned an X grade for a spring semester class, a May intercession class, or a summer term class may not turn in the missing work any later than the end of the first month of the fall semester.
Disruptive Students: Any student in a Writing Department class whose behavior regularly interferes with the instructor’s ability to conduct the class and foster student learning, or who exhibits a behavior so outrageous as to severely impede the conduct of a class, may be dropped by the instructor after the instructor consults with the department chair. Prior warning will be provided to the student when possible, but under extraordinary circumstances such warning may not always be possible.
When dropping a student for disruptive behavior, the instructor will assign a WF grade, specifying on the Drop for Non-Attendance form that the grade is assigned for “disciplinary action.” A record of this disciplinary action will remain permanently on file with the university and the instructor will keep permanent record of dropping the student for disruptive behavior.
Additionally, when dropping a student for disruptive behavior, the instructor is encouraged to submit to the Dean of Students a list of the problematic behaviors.
Late papers: Assignments, including drafts, are down graded one full grade for each day late (each day not posted on your blog), so an assignment deadline missed on Tuesday would result in a D by Friday.
Inclement weather: If Conway schools are closed for inclement weather, we will not meet but will have an alternative assignment posted to the Wiki. If classes are cancelled you should immediately go to the wiki for instructions.
Academic Integrity
The University of Central Arkansas affirms its commitment to academic integrity and expects all members of the university community to accept shared responsibility for maintaining academic integrity. Students in this course are subject to the provisions of the university's Academic Integrity Policy, approved by the Board of Trustees as Board Policy No. 709 on February 10, 2010, and published in the Student Handbook. Penalties for academic misconduct in this course may include a failing grade on an assignment, a failing grade in the course, or any other course-related sanction the instructor determinesto be appropriate. Continued enrollment in this course affirms a student's acceptance of this university policy.
Staying on Dr. V’s Good Side